Quinapril (By mouth)

Introduction

Quinapril (KWIN-a-pril)

Treats high blood pressure and heart failure. A lower blood pressure will reduce the risk of stroke and heart attack. This medicine is an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor.

Brand Name(s)

Accupril

When This Medicine Should Not Be Used

How to Use This Medicine

Tablet

• Your doctor will tell you how much of this medicine to use and how often. Your dose may need to be changed several times in order to find out what works best for you. Do not use more medicine or use it more often than your doctor tells you to.
• Carefully follow your doctor's instructions about any special diet.

If a dose is missed:

• If you miss a dose or forget to use your medicine, use it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then to use the medicine and skip the missed dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.

How to Store and Dispose of This Medicine

• Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light.
• Ask your pharmacist, doctor, or health caregiver about the best way to dispose of any outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.
• Keep all medicine away from children and never share your medicine with anyone.

Drugs and Foods to Avoid

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

• Make sure your doctor knows if you are also using lithium (Eskalith®, Lithobid®), tetracycline, or gold injections (such as sodium aurothiomalate). Tell your doctor if you are using a diuretic or water pill, including amiloride (Midamor®, Moduretic®), chlorthalidone (Combipres®, Tenoretic®), furosemide (Lasix®), spironolactone (Aldactazide®, Aldactone®), or triamterene (Dyazide®, Dyrenium®, or Maxzide®). Make sure your doctor knows if you are also using an NSAID pain or arthritis medicine, including aspirin, celecoxib, ibuprofen, naproxen, Advil®, Aleve®, Celebrex®, Dolobid®, Feldene®, Indocin®, Motrin®, Orudis®, Relafen®, or Voltaren®.
• Ask your doctor before you use medicines, supplements, or salt substitutes that contain potassium.

Warnings While Using This Medicine

• Using this medicine while you are pregnant can harm your unborn baby. Use an effective form of birth control to prevent pregnancy. Tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant.
• Make sure your doctor knows if you are breastfeeding, or if you have kidney disease, liver disease, heart failure, heart or blood vessel disease, low blood pressure, or a mineral imbalance (such as low sodium in the blood). Tell your doctor if you have diabetes or a collagen vascular disease, such as lupus or scleroderma.
• Allergic reactions, including angioedema, are rare, but are more common among black patients.
• This medicine may be less effective in black patients.
• Stop using this medicine and call your doctor right away if you have severe stomach pain (with or without vomiting). This could be a symptom of a serious allergic reaction.
• This medicine could lower your blood pressure too much and cause you to feel dizzy or lightheaded. Stand or sit up slowly if you are dizzy. This is more likely to happen when you begin to use the medicine. It could also happen if have diarrhea or vomiting, sweat heavily, or do not drink enough water and become dehydrated.
• Stop using this medicine and check with your doctor right away if you have pain or tenderness in the upper stomach, pale stools, dark urine, loss of appetite, nausea, unusual tiredness or weakness, or yellow eyes or skin. These could be symptoms of a serious liver problem.
• Check with your doctor if you notice any signs of fever, chills, or sore throat. These could be symptoms of an infection resulting from low white blood cell counts.
• Make sure any doctor or dentist who treats you knows that you are using this medicine. You may need to stop using this medicine several days before having surgery or medical tests.
• Even if you feel well, do not stop using this medicine without asking your doctor. This medicine will not cure your high blood pressure, but it will help lower it and keep it down. You may have to take blood pressure medicine for the rest of your life.
• Your doctor will need to check your blood or urine at regular visits while you are using this medicine. Be sure to keep all appointments.

Possible Side Effects While Using This Medicine

Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:

• Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing
• Change in how much or how often you urinate
• Confusion, body weakness, uneven heartbeat, shortness of breath, or numbness or tingling in your hands, feet, or lips
• Dark-colored urine or pale stools
• Dry mouth, increased thirst, or muscle cramps
• Fast, slow, or pounding heartbeat
• Fever, chills, sore throat, and body aches
• Lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting
• Sudden and severe stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, or loss of appetite
• Swelling in your hands, ankles, or feet
• Yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes

If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:

• Dry cough

If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088